This week has been a great reminder of resilient and innovative in the world of Indian startup ecosystem in the face of global uncertainties. Nearly 40 startups raised $787 million in funding and it is a massive jump from the $250 million raised last week.
One standout story was cloud kitchen giant Rebel Foods. It secured $210 million from Temasek through a mix of primary and secondary share sales. It has plans for an IPO in 2025, Rebel Foods is making big moves in the food-tech space.
Mintifi from the fintech segment raised $180 million in its Series E round led by TVG and Prosus. The company aims to use the fresh capital in expansion across key sectors. It is set to once again prove that fintech is one of the most promising startup segments in India.
Another interesting development came from CarDekho SEA. It is the Southeast Asia arm of CarDekho Group and raised $60 million in its first external funding round. The notable investors were Navis Capital Partners and Dragon Fund. CarDekho is currently making waves beyond Indian borders.
Industrial AI startup Haber raised $44 million in its Series C round. The funding was a blend of equity and debt. It shows the way investors are betting on such technologies which have potential in solving real-world industrial problems. Similarly, home solar startup SolarSquare secured $40 million and marked the largest VC funding in the Indian solar sector.
It is also worth noting that 23 early-stage startups raised more than $54 million this week. It is a sheer gesture of a healthy pipeline of fresh ideas and innovation coming up in the ecosystem.
Equally exciting is the growing role of women in startups. Ministry of Commerce and Industry revealed that nearly half of the government-supported startups have at least one woman director now.
The message from this week is clear and it is that the Indian startups are thriving while the world is watching.
